Tensions grow between SLC and team manager

The relationship between Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and team manager Charith Senanayake has soured further, as the board moves to hold an inquiry into three charges against Senanayake, who said he had handed in his letter of resignation on Wednesday morning.

Earlier in the week SLC said it had replaced Senanayake as manager for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, but said that he would stay on SLC's payroll until his contract expired on March 31. The board has since issued a release stating it had suspended Senanayake's services without pay, pending the inquiry.

SLC said the decision to suspend Senanayake's services was taken on Tuesday, and that that information was conveyed to him on Wednesday morning, and an official letter subsequently delivered to his house. Senanayake said he had been advised of the inquiry, but had not received a letter detailing the charges against him.

"I've already told the CEO that I have no confidence whatsoever in any inquiry that they undertake, because the results of that will be pre-planned," Senanayake said. "Due to the constant harassment from SLC, I handed in my resignation with one month's notice, as per my contract."

Senanayake ran afoul of SLC during Sri Lanka's recent tour of Australia, when he forwarded a letter from then-captain Mahela Jayawardene to the media, in which Jayawardene claimed he had "lost all confidence in SLC" as a result of a confidential document being leaked by the board. SLC then issued a statement claiming both Senanayake and Jayawardene had breached their contracts, and that their actions will be reviewed by the executive committee, but no official penalties were handed out.

SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga refused to comment on the issue, and CEO Ajit Jayasekara was unavailable for comment. SLC's release did not explain what the three charges against Senanayake were.

Senanayake was an opening batsman, and played three Tests and seven ODIs in the early 1990s. He had been the team manager since February 2012, and was also head of SLC's marketing unit from 2008 to 2011.